The Ultimate Guide to Thrifting Second-hand Fashion

So, you’ve decided to give op-shops and pre-loved fashion stores a go at finding your next second-hand piece for your wardrobe, but what if you’ve never set foot in these stores or don’t know how to shop in them?

Well never fear, for this guide will serve as your ultimate tool to navigating op-shops and physical pre-loved fashion stores.

Start by creating a list and having a rough idea of what you’re looking for

With op-shops and pre-loved fashion stores, you’ll never know what you might find. It’s a good starting point to have a rough idea and wish list for what you’re looking for. Try not to be too specific or too vague, as you want to give yourself enough of a guideline as to what to search for, but remaining open to pleasant surprises and unexpected finds.

Some examples may include: ‘long navy coat’, ‘wide-leg jeans’, and ‘graphic t-shirt’ just to name a few. Generally speaking, specifying what kind of cut or silhouette and the colour of a wish-list item is enough for you to go on.

Additionally, having a rough idea or wish list will ensure you won’t feel overwhelmed when you first walk in to a store and see the sheer amount of garments to browse through.  

Planning your day of op-shopping and pre-loved fashion shopping

If you’ve decided to dedicate an entire day for hitting up various op-shops and pre-loved fashion stores, then you’ll need a plan for the duration of the day. You’ll need to determine how many shops you’ll be travelling to and how much time you’ll spend in each shop.

A top tip: have a look at which areas have multiple op-shops close-by, so you can save time spent travelling, which you can then use for more thrifting!

A hungry and thirsty thrifter is not a happy thrifter, so make sure to bring your water bottle and some snacks along if there aren’t any cafes or eateries nearby. Trust me, a whole day of thrifting can get quite tiring, especially if you’ve browsed through hundreds and hundreds of items. So, don’t forget to schedule some mini-breaks in between for re-gaining your focus and energy to keep up the hunt.

Putting together a suitable outfit

If you’ll be intending to try things on (which you always should if possible), you’ll want to wear an outfit which is comfortable, practical, and easy to change in and out of.

Some examples of such outfits are leggings and a top, a flowy skirt and a top, jeans and a top, or a pair of wide-leg pants and a top. The reason why you want to wear a top and a bottom is that when you’re trying out pieces, you’ll want a top or bottom which matches with pretty much any outfit. This will give you a good idea as to whether a piece will match well with other items in your wardrobe. I also recommend wearing a cross-body bag, as it’ll free up your hands for browsing the racks.

Let’s not forget about footwear as well. If you’re venturing out to multiple thrift stores throughout the day, you’ll want to wear comfortable shoes. Sneakers are a safe bet, or a pair of comfy sandals will do as well. Boots are also acceptable too if they can easily be slipped on and off.

Don’t be that person who dresses really fancy to hit up the op-shops. Trust me, I’ve been that person before, and it feels like it takes an eternity to get changed and try on all your pieces which you've picked out to try.

Places to op-shop and browse pre-loved fashion

There are a range of physical store options for all types of shoppers in the second-hand fashion market.

You’ve got traditional op-shops, which can usually be found around various suburbs in your city. Such stores sell donations which people have donated, consisting of items from mainstream fashion brands, vintage pieces, and quirky pieces.

Then, you’ve got consignment or ‘rent-a-rack’ style stores. These stores are where people can sell their items for a commission to the store and/or rent a rack to sell their items. Generally, you’ll find a higher quality selection of items at such stores because people have to pay a fee to sell their items, which in turn makes them more selective about what they will be selling.

Next, you’ve got vintage stores. These stores usually have a higher price range, as their selection of garments has been carefully curated and picked out. They’ll also wash and/or mend the item if it had flaws or imperfections prior to sale, which means you’ll be able to wear an item you’ve bought straight away.

Lastly, you’ve got flea markets and garage sales. For those who really enjoy the thrill of the hunt and travelling around, this option is for you. Although renowned mostly for knick-knacks and antique items, flea markets and garage sales can also feature second-hand fashion. So, I’d say give these a go if you’re curious as to what you may find.

How to browse op-shops and pre-loved fashion racks

Think op-shops and pre-loved fashion stores are pretty much all the same? Well you’d be wrong there. There are so many different ways in which these shops can be organised. From those which have racks which never seem to end, to those who have racks which are organised like a conventional retail store, there is a store layout to suit your thrifting style.

The majority of op-shops will usually organise their stores according to their category and size (e.g. jeans, pants, skirts, long-sleeve tops, short-sleeve tops). By far, these are the op-shops which you’ll find are a breeze to browse through, as you won’t have to sift through each rack entirely to discover an item in your size.

Next, you’ll encounter op-shops which only sort by category, which can make the hunt more time consuming, as you’ll need to look through more items in the category in order to find garments in your size.

Occasionally, there will be op-shops out there which arrange items by colour. I’m not sure who thought this was a good idea, but arguably this is the most difficult layout to browse through, followed closely by op-shops with no layout at all whatsoever.

Of course, with more niche, vintage, and consignment stores, browsing will be an ease as these stores are usually laid out like a traditional retail store.

It all depends how you like to shop. Are you one to go through each item on a rack and inspect it slowly, or are you one which prefers an abundance of items to select from with no end in sight? Determining your ‘thrifting style’ will be essential to picking which stores are right for you.

Furthermore, it can depend on the time you’ve got available to browse as well. If you’ve dedicated time to visit the store, then the best gems are found by browsing each piece. If you’re just popping in however and won’t have enough time to browse through each piece, then you can quickly rummage through the pieces and pull out any item which may catch your eye. This method will ensure that you're not getting bogged down by looking at every single item, which can be draining.

How to inspect a second-hand garment

Picking out a garment which catches your eye can make you feel excited and like you’ve just hit the jackpot. However, before you add it straight to your basket to purchase, there are a few aspects of the garment which you should inspect before purchasing it.

Second-hand clothing is well, second-hand. Chances are it’s been worn and may have imperfections with it. Some aspects to inspect for are stains, marks, pilling, lint, creases, fabric pulls, and quality the of stitching.

‘Is this a stain I can actually get out or is it minor enough that it won’t bother me?’

If there are any flaws which you come across, you need to ask yourself whether they can be fixed or mended, and that you’ll actually fix them. For those who are picky (like me), this can be a hard thing to consider, especially when you come across an amazing item with flaws.

Some things are easier to mend than others, such as a bit of loose stitching or missing buttons. However, if it’s a stain or mark that seems not to budge with a bit of friction or water, then it’s best to leave that item on the rack (unless you’re not bothered by it).  

The type of fabric is worth inspecting as well. Most garments have a fabric composition label on the inside. If there isn’t a label, then feeling it with your hands can determine whether the fabric is a natural, synthetic, or blended fabric. It should feel comfortable and not itchy or flimsy, as it’ll be touching your skin.

Finally, determine how durable the fabric is. Unfortunately, with the overflow of fast fashion garments ending up at most op-shops, a lot of the clothing has been made with lower-quality and cheaper fabrics, which may not stand the test of time after a few washes. However, amongst the fast fashion items, there are vintage and high quality garments to be found. Tips such as holding up a garment up to the light and seeing how it drapes on the hanger can be a hint at revealing the durability and quality of the fabric.

Trying on second-hand garments

Where possible, it is recommended that you try on any garments that you’re potentially thinking of purchasing. This is to ensure that it fits how you would like it to fit, as well as giving you more time to consider whether you want to add it to your wardrobe.

If you’re thrifting with a friend, be sure to ask them what they think of it and how it looks on you (this works best if you have an honest friend that’ll tell you if it doesn’t work for you).

Be sure to move around in the garment as well whilst you’re trying it on. Can you sit, bend, walk around, and eat a meal whilst wearing it? If yes to all, then chances are it fits you.

If change rooms are not available, you can bring a measuring tape to measure out garments to determine if they’ll fit you. This is a great tip for saving you time from having to try on each garment individually.

What to do after purchasing a pre-loved garment

Once you’ve purchased your pre-loved garment, it’s time to make it feel like yours. Firstly, it’s best to give it a good wash, following the care instructions for the garment. If it still has the ‘vintage’ smell you might find with second-hand garments, then add some vinegar and water to a spray bottle and spritz it over the garment; this will remove the smell.

Next, if there are any flaws which you’ve found which need fixing, then it’s time to bring out the sewing kit to mend the item.

Lastly, which is the most fun part, is to start wearing and styling it! A second-hand garment which is new to your wardrobe feels new to you, and at the same time you’ve kept it out of landfill and extended its life. 

With this guide in the back of your pocket, you now have all the tools you need to start shopping at op-shops are pre-loved fashion stores. Good luck on finding your next second-hand fashion garment!